How to Move to Spain from the UK After Brexit: Complete 2026 Guide

Moving to Spain from the UK: the post-Brexit reality

Spain remains the top destination for British people looking to live abroad. An estimated 360,000 UK nationals are registered as residents in Spain, and many more spend extended periods on the costas each year. But since the UK left the EU on 31 January 2020 — with the transition period ending on 31 December 2020 — the rules have changed fundamentally.

Before Brexit, any British citizen could move to Spain, register as a resident, and start working or retiring with minimal paperwork. Today, UK nationals are treated as third-country citizens, subject to the same immigration rules as Americans, Canadians or Australians. That means visas, income thresholds, and a more complex bureaucratic path.

This guide covers every step of the process in 2026 — from choosing the right visa to exchanging your driving licence and buying property.

The 90/180-day rule: what tourists need to know

As a British passport holder, you can visit Spain (and the wider Schengen Area) for up to 90 days within any rolling 180-day period without a visa. This is fine for holidays, but it is not enough for anyone planning to live in Spain. Overstaying carries fines, deportation risk and a potential Schengen-wide ban.

From 2026, the EU's ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) requires UK travellers to obtain an electronic authorisation before entering the Schengen Area. It costs €7 and is valid for three years. It is not a visa — it is a pre-travel screening similar to the US ESTA.

Visa options for British citizens

Non-lucrative visa (visado de residencia no lucrativa)

This is the most popular route for British retirees and people with passive income. It allows you to live in Spain but not work. You apply at the Spanish consulate in the UK before travelling.

Requirements:

• Proof of sufficient funds — approximately €28,800 per year (400% of the IPREM indicator) for the main applicant, plus roughly €7,200 per additional family member
• Private health insurance with a Spanish provider, with no co-pays and full coverage
• Clean criminal record certificate (apostilled and translated)
• Medical certificate confirming no serious contagious diseases
• Proof you will not work in Spain

The initial visa is granted for one year. You then apply in Spain for a residence card (TIE — Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero), which is renewed for two-year periods. After five years of continuous legal residence, you can apply for permanent residency. After ten years, you become eligible for Spanish nationality.

Digital nomad visa (visado para teletrabajo de carácter internacional)

Introduced in 2023, Spain's digital nomad visa is ideal for British remote workers employed by non-Spanish companies or freelancers with predominantly international clients.

Key requirements:

• A real and continuous employment or freelance relationship for at least three months prior to application
• Minimum income of roughly 200% of the Spanish minimum wage (approximately €2,520/month in 2026)
• No more than 20% of your income can come from Spanish clients (for freelancers)
• A degree or at least three years of professional experience in your field
• Private health insurance

The visa lasts one year, extendable to a three-year residence permit. A major tax advantage is the Beckham Law regime: qualifying digital nomads pay a flat 24% income tax on Spanish-sourced income up to €600,000, rather than the progressive rates that can reach 47%.

Work visa (cuenta ajena)

If a Spanish company offers you a job, they must apply for a work authorisation on your behalf. The employer needs to demonstrate that no suitable EU candidate was available. This route is more complex but straightforward if you have a firm job offer.

Entrepreneur visa

For those starting a business in Spain deemed to be of economic interest. Requires a detailed business plan approved by a favourable report from the Commercial Office.

TIE card for Withdrawal Agreement rights holders

If you were legally resident in Spain before 1 January 2021, you are protected under the UK–EU Withdrawal Agreement. Your rights — including the right to live, work and access healthcare — are preserved. You should already hold a TIE card marked "Artículo 50 del TUE" (Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union). If you have not yet obtained one, apply immediately at the Oficina de Extranjería, as this card is your proof of protected status.

Withdrawal Agreement TIE holders have stronger rights than new post-Brexit arrivals: they can leave Spain for up to five years (rather than the standard two) without losing permanent residency, and they retain equal treatment with EU citizens regarding employment and social benefits.

Healthcare: from the NHS to the Spanish system

Spain's public healthcare system is excellent and consistently ranked among the best in Europe. But how you access it depends on your situation.

S1 form for UK state pensioners

If you receive a UK state pension, you can apply to the NHS Business Services Authority for an S1 certificate. Registering this with your local INSS office in Spain entitles you to full Spanish public healthcare, paid for by the UK. This also covers your dependants and gives you a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) issued by Spain for travel within the EU.

Private health insurance

All visa applicants (non-lucrative, digital nomad, etc.) must show private health insurance. Policies from Sanitas, Adeslas, Asisa or MAPFRE typically cost €60–€150 per month, depending on age and coverage. Once you are formally employed in Spain or have been a legal resident for one year, you can register for public healthcare (convenio especial) for approximately €60/month.

Prescriptions and dental care

Prescription costs in the Spanish public system are subsidised — pensioners pay 10% of the cost (capped at around €8–€18/month depending on income). Dental care is largely private in Spain, as in the UK, but routine dental work costs considerably less than in Britain.

UK state pension in Spain

Your UK state pension is fully payable in Spain. Thanks to the UK–EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) signed in December 2020, your pension receives the annual uprating — meaning it increases each year in line with the triple lock, just as it would if you lived in the UK. This was a major concern during Brexit negotiations, as many countries outside the EU (such as Australia and Canada) have their UK pensions frozen at the rate when they left.

You can have your pension paid into a Spanish bank account in euros (currency conversion applies) or into a UK bank account. Many expats use services like Wise (formerly TransferWise) or Revolut to transfer money at favourable exchange rates.

Driving licence exchange

The UK and Spain signed a driving licence exchange agreement in March 2023. British residents in Spain can now exchange their UK licence for a Spanish one without sitting a test. The process is handled through the DGT (Dirección General de Tráfico).

Requirements:

• Valid UK driving licence
• Spanish residency (TIE or green certificate for WA holders)
• Medical fitness certificate from a CRC (Centro de Reconocimiento de Conductores) — costs around €30–€50
• Completed application form and Tasa 2.4 fee (approximately €28)

You must surrender your UK licence during the exchange. If you return to the UK permanently, you can exchange it back. Until you exchange, you may drive on your UK licence for six months from establishing residency, but no longer.

Buying property in Spain as a non-EU citizen

British buyers remain the largest group of foreign property purchasers in Spain. Being a non-EU citizen does not prevent you from buying — there are no restrictions on foreign property ownership.

The process:

• Obtain an NIE number (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) — required for any financial transaction in Spain
• Open a Spanish bank account
• Hire an independent English-speaking lawyer (abogado) — essential, not optional
• Sign a reservation contract and pay a deposit (typically €3,000–€6,000)
• Sign arras (private purchase contract) with a 10% deposit
• Complete at the notary (escritura pública) and register the property

Total buying costs run approximately 10–13% on top of the purchase price, including transfer tax (ITP) at 7–10% depending on the region, notary fees, registry fees and legal costs.

Mortgages are available to non-residents, though banks typically lend 60–70% of the property value (compared to 80% for residents). Interest rates in 2026 are around 3–4% for fixed-rate mortgages.

Banking and money transfers

Opening a Spanish bank account is straightforward with your passport and NIE. Major banks like CaixaBank, Santander, Sabadell and BBVA all serve foreign residents. Monthly account fees range from €0 to €10.

For transferring your savings or pension from the UK to Spain, avoid using traditional bank wire transfers, which often include hidden exchange rate markups of 2–4%. Specialist services like Wise, Revolut, or CurrencyFair offer rates close to the mid-market rate with transparent fees, potentially saving hundreds of pounds per transfer.

Cost of living: UK vs Spain

One of the biggest draws is the lower cost of living. Some realistic comparisons in 2026:

• Monthly rent (2-bed apartment): London £1,800–£2,500 vs Costa Blanca €500–€800
• Supermarket shop (couple, weekly): UK £80–£120 vs Spain €50–€70
• Eating out (meal for two, mid-range): UK £50–£70 vs Spain €25–€40
• Beer in a bar: UK £5–£7 vs Spain €1.50–€3
• Council tax / IBI: UK £1,500–£2,500/year vs Spain €200–€600/year
• Private health insurance (age 60): UK £150–£300/month vs Spain €80–€150/month

Overall, many British expats report their living costs in Spain are 30–50% lower than in the UK, even accounting for flights home and maintaining some UK expenses.

British communities on the costas

The Costa Blanca (particularly the southern stretch around Torrevieja, Orihuela Costa and La Zenia) and the Costa del Sol (Marbella, Fuengirola, Benalmádena and Mijas) have the largest established British communities in Spain. In these areas you will find:

• English-speaking doctors, dentists and lawyers
• British supermarkets (Iceland, overseas goods shops) and familiar restaurants
• English-language newspapers, radio stations and Facebook groups
• Social clubs, quiz nights, cricket and bowls
• Anglican and Catholic churches with English-language services

For many British arrivals, this community infrastructure makes the transition dramatically easier. You can integrate at your own pace — enjoy the Spanish lifestyle while having a support network of people who understand the UK systems you have left behind.

Key steps checklist

1. Choose your visa route and gather documentation
2. Apply at the Spanish consulate in Edinburgh, London or Manchester
3. Arrange private health insurance with a Spanish provider
4. Travel to Spain within the visa validity window and register (empadronamiento)
5. Apply for your TIE card within 30 days of arrival
6. Open a Spanish bank account and obtain your NIE
7. Register your S1 form (pensioners) at the local INSS office
8. Exchange your driving licence at the DGT
9. File your first Spanish tax return (declaración de la renta) the following year
10. After five years, apply for permanent residency; after ten years, consider Spanish nationality

Moving to Spain after Brexit is more paperwork than it was before 2021, but hundreds of thousands of Britons have navigated it successfully. With the right preparation, the rewards — sunshine, lower costs, better quality of life — are as compelling as ever.

Frequently Asked Questions

The 90/180-day rule: what tourists need to know?

As a British passport holder, you can visit Spain (and the wider Schengen Area) for up to 90 days within any rolling 180-day period without a visa. This is fine for holidays, but it is not enough for anyone planning to live in Spain. Overstaying carries fines, deportation risk and a potential Schengen-wide ban. From 2026, the EU's ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) requires UK travellers to obtain an electronic authorisation before entering the Schengen Area. It costs €7 and is valid for three years. It is not a visa — it is a pre-travel screening similar to the US ESTA.

TIE card for Withdrawal Agreement rights holders?

If you were legally resident in Spain before 1 January 2021, you are protected under the UK–EU Withdrawal Agreement. Your rights — including the right to live, work and access healthcare — are preserved. You should already hold a TIE card marked "Artículo 50 del TUE" (Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union). If you have not yet obtained one, apply immediately at the Oficina de Extranjería, as this card is your proof of protected status. Withdrawal Agreement TIE holders have stronger rights than new post-Brexit arrivals: they can leave Spain for up to five years (rather than the standard two) without losing permanent residency, and they retain equal treatment with EU citizens regarding employment and social benefits.

UK state pension in Spain?

Your UK state pension is fully payable in Spain. Thanks to the UK–EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) signed in December 2020, your pension receives the annual uprating — meaning it increases each year in line with the triple lock, just as it would if you lived in the UK. This was a major concern during Brexit negotiations, as many countries outside the EU (such as Australia and Canada) have their UK pensions frozen at the rate when they left. You can have your pension paid into a Spanish bank account in euros (currency conversion applies) or into a UK bank account. Many expats use services like Wise (formerly TransferWise) or Revolut to transfer money at favourable exchange rates.

Buying property in Spain as a non-EU citizen?

British buyers remain the largest group of foreign property purchasers in Spain. Being a non-EU citizen does not prevent you from buying — there are no restrictions on foreign property ownership. Obtain an NIE number (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) — required for any financial transaction in Spain Open a Spanish bank account Hire an independent English-speaking lawyer (abogado) — essential, not optional Sign a reservation contract and pay a deposit (typically €3,000–€6,000) Sign arras (private purchase contract) with a 10% deposit Complete at the notary (escritura pública) and register the property

Total buying costs run approximately 10–13% on top of the purchase price, including transfer tax (ITP) at 7–10% depending on the region, notary fees, registry fees and legal costs.

Cost of living: UK vs Spain?

One of the biggest draws is the lower cost of living. Some realistic comparisons in 2026: Monthly rent (2-bed apartment): London £1,800–£2,500 vs Costa Blanca €500–€800 Supermarket shop (couple, weekly): UK £80–£120 vs Spain €50–€70 Eating out (meal for two, mid-range): UK £50–£70 vs Spain €25–€40 Beer in a bar: UK £5–£7 vs Spain €1.50–€3 Council tax / IBI: UK £1,500–£2,500/year vs Spain €200–€600/year Private health insurance (age 60): UK £150–£300/month vs Spain €80–€150/month

Overall, many British expats report their living costs in Spain are 30–50% lower than in the UK, even accounting for flights home and maintaining some UK expenses.